Cancer preventability statistics

Estimate of preventable cancers in the UK

Here we provide the latest cancer statistics for the UK, as well as what proportion of cancer cases could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight.

Cancer Incidence

In the UK in 2012, 338,631 cases of cancer were diagnosed.

Of these cancer cases, 171,958 were in men, and 166,673 were in women.

Cancer mortality

In the UK in 2012, there were 161,379 cancer deaths.

Of these deaths, 84,775 were men and 76,604 were women.

Preventable cancers

Overall, scientists estimate that about a third (32%) of 13 of the most common cancers in the UK could be prevented through improved diet, physical activity and body weight. The table below includes preventability estimates by type of cancer.

These estimates only include diet, physical activity and weight, and not other important risk factors such as smoking and sun damage.